Job search efforts underway with a focused hospitality industry career fair

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Job seekers and employers came together for a Visit Santa Barbara hospitality industry career fair Wednesday.

It comes at a time when employers are seeing a drop in applicants, and job seekers are looking for better pay and benefits than they had pre-COVID-19.

Organizers filled the rotunda at the Hilton Beachfront Resort for the four hour event.

They say, from hotels and restaurants to local attractions attendees checked out current job openings and met potential employers in a relaxed, outdoor setting.

It was an ideal location for someone looking for full or part-time work, a first or second job, or to move up to a management position.

Among the 38 companies attending were the Hilton, Rosewood Miramar, Lemon Tree, Augies, Jersey Mike's, MOXI, the Santa Barbara Airport, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Leta Hotel (Spire), Foley Family wines, Westmont, and many others.

Visit Santa Barbara Executive Director, Kathy Janega-Dykes said, "job shortages are really the number one crisis that our industry faces right now."

All indicators are that tourism is coming back and the hospitality industry is in a serious situation.

Janega-Dykes says, "we need to make sure that we  have the  the infrastructure  to provide the customer service experience."

Many job opportunities came with a flexible schedule. Samantha Onnen with the Santa Barbara Airbus says, "we have such a variable schedule.  We can do part time, full time, one or two days a week, we are really looking for some drive staff to join us."

With a business that started ten years ago, Tara Jones Haaf at Eat This, Shoot That! said, "we're looking for mid week and weekend tour guides really just locals who know the food scene and really love to talk about Santa Barbara."

The Santa Barbara Adventure Company has land and sea jobs. Will Adams said, "we do tours out in the Channel Islands National Park and the Santa Barbara harbor as well as wine tours in Santa Ynez.  It is great for people who like the outdoors and want kind of a different experience."

One applicant says she just  finished bartending school and is ready to get out again.

Betty Namdar said, "with the whole thing COVID, being just enclosed for two year made me feel like I need to have more interaction with people." She said there were several interested employers who wanted her to follow through with the application process. One business invited her to a site visit later in the day.

Many employers said those who knew the 805 area and were  outgoing with guests would be a good fit.

Drew Wakefield at the Ramada by Wyndham said, "one of the things we like to do at the hotel especially because we're in the hospitality business, is be hospitable and share our wonderful greater 805 area." He said there are also many opportunities to learn the hotel business, and pursue management positions.  

The pay has gone up slightly from pre COVID wages, and some of the guides or tour operators can make much more with tips.

"We offer a base hour rate and they  are working for tips. so the tips tend to be  generous from travelers especially this time of year," said Haaf.

The Lemon Tree hotel offered a starting pay of $18.-$22. for some positions.

Employers also said there were numerous jobs behind the scenes that also need to be filled.

For more information, click here Hospitality Career Fair.